Canopy Closure Switch

Apparently there have been a handful of incidents with pilots getting distracted after being airborne only to discover that their canopy is not latched.  There have been crashes....supposedly all in the guise of a distracted pilot.  Purportedly, the RV-12 flies just fine with the canopy unlatched and there is no propensity for it to depart the airframe in flight.  The fact remains that it has apparently been a signficant safety issue.

To this end, Van's engineered a canopy latching switch, which will serve notice to the pilot by a signal/notification to the EFIS of the problem. As I understand it, if the switch (and thus the canopy) is not locked, then once the engine reaches 3700 rpm, the EFIS will display some info informing the pilot of the condition.

The picture below contrasts the original canopy latch, shown on the left with the new one on the right.  You will note the small micro switch above the latch on the right, which will eventually be mounted on the face of the latch.

Another wire (the white one) was required to be strung from one of the wiring harnesses terminating in the instrument panel all the way back to the roll bar, where it exits at the underside of the center as shown below.  The other two wires will interface with the cockpit light.  Also of note is the nylon latch stop, which was also swapped out with the original unit.  No pictures of those.

Shown below is a picture of the canopy latch switch mounted to the "hook" which is then riveted to the back side of the roll bar, just as the original.  Of further note is the small ground wire mounted above and the right of the canopy micro switch.

This shot shows the canopy latch handle engaging the arm of the canopy latch micro switch - this is what we are after.

And a final shot showing the canopy micro switch NOT fully engaged - this is one of the circumstances which we are trying to avoid!  Looks like mission accomplished.